Knitting-machine.



No- 806,293. I PATENTED DEG. 5, 1905.

. J. E. ROWE. I

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 6, 1902.

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with the cam-cylinder both durin *nmrnn PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES" E. ROWE, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR. TO E.

" JENOKES- MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND. I

KNITTING-MACHINE.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1905- Application filed January 6, I902- Serial No- 88,508.

Knitting-Machines; and I do hereby declare.

the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, to be a full, clear, and

exact description thereof.

The features of the invention relate to knit Sting-machines and may be employed with the stitches travels about the series of nee-' dles and is in substantially fixed relation and reciprocating knitting. During the movement of the cam or needle cylinder, as the case may be, in one direction the needles on one side of the knitting-wave will be moving down to draw the new loops through the loops on the needles, and the needles on the other side will be moving up through the newly-drawn loops, while during the movenient of the cam or needle cylinder in the other direction the movements of the needles in the knitting-wave are reversed, those on the side where the needles were moving up now moving down and those on the side where the needles were moving down now moving up. It follows, therefore, that in a machine of this character, wherein the 100 s are held as the needles rise through themy reciprocating sinkers, thatthe sinkers should be so operated that they will be withdrawn on one side of the knitting-wave and will be advanced on theother sidev of the wave as the wave travels in one direction, and when the direction of-travel of the wave is reversed the sinkers. will be withdrawn on the side where they were advanced and advanced on the side where they were withdrawn in order vary the rotary that the sinkers may, during the travel of the wave in each direction, be withdrawn where the needles are acting to draw the new loops and be advanced on that side ,of the knitting-wave where the needles are rising through the newly-drawn loops.

The present invention relates to devices for operating the sinkers or web-holders of a knitting-machine and is especially useful in the above character of machine in that it admits of a simple and efficient construction for operating the sinkers in the manner set forth. v

. In a construction embodying the features of this invention the sinkers are retracted and advanced by camswhich are shifted to oints at which the sinkers'are operated. In case the invention is embodied in a machine in which the needle-cylinder rotates and the knitting-cams are fixed the sinker-cams will remain stationary, and the sinkers will travel-with the needle-cylinder, while in machines wherein the cam-cylinder rotates the sinker-cams will be mounted upon a sinker cam-ring which travels with the cam-cylinder.

A form of the invention well adaptedfor use in knitting-machines of the character referred to is that shown in the accompanyin drawings, and this form of the invention Wil beexplained in detail in connection with the ap lication to such a machine.

n the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view indicating the manner of operating the sinkers as the cam-cylinder moves in one direcmatical view indicating the manner of. forming the knitting-wave andleading the thread to the needles. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the cam-cylinder moving in the opposite direction. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig, 2 with the cam-cylinder moving in the opposite direction. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing the manner of mounting and connecting various parts of the machine. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a part of the sinker cam-ring, showing the manner of mounting the sinker-cams. Fig. 7 is a view looking at the bottom of. the same part of the sinker cam-ring. Fig. Sis a section on line8 8, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9, Fig.7.

In the machine shown in the drawings'the anism such as is well known in the knittingart.

The needle-butts are supported upon an annular ledge 9, carried by the cam-cylinder, and the knittingrcam; fordrawing down the needles and the cooperating. cams for'raising the needles are located at the ends of this ledge. The knitting-cam consists of a. late 11, provided with converging carn-su aces 12 and 13', which engageithe needle-butts and force them downward. The cooperating cams consist of inclined camrsurfaces 16 and 17, the surface 16 bein parallel to the cam.-

surface 13 and the su ace 17 being parallel to the cam-surface 12. When the cam-cylindervrotates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, the needle-butts pass down the surface 12, under the-point of thek-nitting-cam, and'rup' the surface 16. When the cam-cylinder rotatesin the opposite direction. during reciprocating knitting, the needle-butts pass down surface 13, under thepoint of the knitting-cam, and up surface 17 onto the ledge-9. Thusthe knitting-cam and cooperating. cams form a wave, as shown at 18, Figs. 2 and .4,in the seriesof needles which travels. continuouslyaround the seriesof needles during rotory knitting and back and forth across the series of active needles during reciprocating knitting, the position .of .the wavewith rela- 'tion to the cam-cylinder being; substantially fixed, since the lowest point ot:the wave is always. formed by the pointof the camplate 1 1.

Thesinkers 19 for holding the-fabric as the needles risethrough the loops last drawn by them are mounted in radial grooves. in av 's1nker-r1ng;19?, secured. to the needle-cyhn der, and the forward ends of the sinkers are guided in. slots'formed in the top; of theneedle-cylinder. The sinkersare-provided with the usual hooks or fingers. for overlying the fabric and are reciprocated in their guidinggroovesby cams-carriedby a sinker cam-ring 21, mounted toturn on the sinker-ring 19, ,thecarmring being provided. with an annular rib-221, which fits over the outer. edge of the sinker-ring. and. .being held upon the sinkerring byclips 23, engagingthe under surface of the rin A'guiding-ring 20, provided with radia Jgroovesthrough which. that sinkersipass, is mountedin theinner edge of the sinker-ring and is held down inposition to 'preventth'erise: of? theisinkersby the sinker 'camering.

When the cam-cylinder is moving in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, the wave 18 is traveling along the needles in the same di rection, and the needles on the right of the point where the loops are drawn or the knitting-point are moving downward and the needles on the left of the knitting-point are moving upward. When the cam-cylinder is moving in the opposite direction, as in Fig. 2,

the wave also travels in the o )posite direction and the needles on the le t of the knitting-point will be moving down and the needles on the right will be rising. It follows, therefore, that during themovement of the cam-cylinder from left to right the sinkers should be'withdrawn atthe right of the knitting-point where the needles are drawing the loops and should be in vadvancedposition at the left of the knitting-point where thencedlesare rising, as in Fig. 3, and that when the cam-cylinder is moving from right to left the sinkers should be withdrawn at the left and advanced at the right of the lmitting-point, as in Fig. 1that is to say, the points at which the sinkers are withdrawn and advanced should be shifted from side to side of the knitting-wave as the cylinder reciprocates.

The sinkersv are held in their innerpoition with thehooks above the fabric by an annular rib 24 on the sinkercam-ring, which passes through grooves extending. laterally through the-upper edges of the sinkers. The rib 24 is interrupted opposite the knitting-wave, and between the ends of the rib are mounted the cams for retracting and advancing the sinkers, the cams being so constructedandarrangedv that they are shifted to vary the points at which theesinkers are retracted and advanced. In the form of theinvention shown thecams consist of four cam-surfaces 25, 26 27, and 28, formed on a movable plate 29, mounted between the ends of the rib 24. The plate 29 is mounted for move ment onthe under side of the sinker camring by means of screws 30, which pass through slots 31 in the cam-ring and areprovided with heads engaging the upper surface ofthecam-ring. The ends of the=rib 24 are formed to fit the curved ends of the plate 29, and the ends of the rib and plate are formed to overlap, so as to bridge over the space which would otherwise be left between one end of the plate and the adjacent end of the rib when the plate is shifted.

The plate 29 is so shaped and guided by the slots 31 that when the cam-ring is movinginthe direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, the earn-surface 25 projects beyond the rib 24, and asit travels through the grooves in the sinkers engages theouter ends of said grooves and retracts. the sinkers. The retracted sinkers are then advanced by the cam-surfacer26, which engages the iimer ends ofthe grooves in thesinkers and forces the sinkers into their advanced position. At this time the cam-surface 27 is against the end of the rib 24 and the innerv edge of the plate which forms the cam-surface 28 is concentric with.

and forms a continuation of the inner side of the rib. When the sinker cam-ring isreversed, the plate 29 is shifted by reason'of the friction between the plate and the sinkers from the position shown in Fig. 1 -to the osition shown in Fig. 3, the movement 0 the plate and its position being determined by. This movement of the p ate brings the cams 27 and 28 into position to retract and advance the sinkers and brings the cam-surface the shape of the uiding slots 31.

against the end of the rib 24 and cam-surface 26 into osition concentric with the rib 24.

When the cam-ring is again reversed, the

plate is shifted into the position of Fig. 1,

and thus as the cam-ring reciprocates the; cams are shifted automatically to vary the points at which the sinkers are retracted and advanced. The cam surfaces on the late 29 are so arranged with relationto the itting-wave that the sinkers arewithdrawn at from left to right.

In order that the outward movement of the sinkers may be varied, means are provided for varying the .shape'of the guidingslots, which ring and be broug the plate 30 into position to form the inner edge of the guiding-slots, as indicated Fig. 7. If the edges 31" are inside the inner edge of the slots 31, then the edge of the slots 31 determinev the outer positions of the earns 25 and 27 By moving the plate 30 -radially outward the edges 31 guiding-slots and determine the outer posi tions of the cams 25 and 27. The plate 30 cam-ring. These screws may be-adjusted to,

is held in adjusted position by a screvmifi The sinker cam-ring lsconnected withthe, cam-cylinder through a stud 33 rising from the cam-cylinder, and arranged to be engaged by two adjustable screws 34 'onthe determine the relation between the sinkercams and the knitting camand may-bead justed toprevent any lost motion between,

determine the positions of the cam-plate 29. This means consists of a plate. 30, radially adjustable in the sinker cam: provided with edges 31", which mayv t by the outward adjustment-of may be adjusted so: that they will form the inner edges of the the 'cam cylinder and sinker cam-ring or may be adju'stedto allow of lost motion, if d'e" jsired. It is preferred, however, to have no lost motion etwe en the cam-cylinder and sinker cam-ring, as with the parts thus adjusted there are no sudden jars or shocks due to the sudden engagement of a moving part with a comparatively heavy part, such as would occur were there lost motion be tween the sinker cam-ring and the part which drives it.

Thereis no lost motion in the construction described between the knitting-cam and-the part which rotates it; nor is there lost motion between the sinker cam-ring and the art which drives it. The lost motion w ich causes the two sets of sinker-operatingficams to be alternately brought into and out of ac tive position takes place between the sinker cam-ring and the ight plate carrying the cams. The machine may be run at high speed, thereforexdurin reciprocating knittin without injury to t e parts. I

he shifting of the plate which carries the sinker-cams circumferentially of the cam-' ring is caused by relative movement between the sinker cam-ring and a part with which the plate is frictionally engaged, this part being, thesinkers in the construction shown. This movement of the plates causes oneset of cams to be moved radially to bring them into active position and the other set of cams tojbe moved radially to carry them out of action, It will also be noted that the relative movement of the plate isrearward with relation to the travel of the sinker cam-ring, .while the cams are so arranged that the point at which the sinkers are a vanced is shifted forward by this rearward shifting of the camcarrying plate. Thiscauses the advanceof the sinker on the proper side of the knittingwave without lost motion between the knitting-cam carrier and the part which rotates it and without lost motion between the sinker cam-ring and the part which operates it.

Asthe knitting-wave travels along the series of needles the thread must be led-to the needles in advance of the knitting-point, and since the-wave is in fixed relation to the camcylinder'andtravels back and forth alon the series of needles during reciprocatin knit ting itfollows that the thread should be led I to the needles from first one'side and then thepther of the knitting-wave at such time. Thisis accomplished by the employmentof two thread-guides 32 and 33, formed in the latch-ring 34 and providedwith guiding-surdrawn as passes to the needles, the surfaces being arranged at substantially right angles to the line of travel of the thread as it passes therefrom to the knitting-point, so that there is no tendency for the thread to slide laterally over said surface. The two thread-guides faces 35 and 36-, over which the thread-is are connected by a slot 37, which serves to direct the thread from one guide to the other.

During reciprocating knitting the thread is led over surface 35 as the cam-cylinder moves from left to right, and during the travel of the knitting-wave along the active needles the thread runs to the needles in a line at right angles to the surface 35. When the knitting-cam has passed the active needles, the thread leads from the last active needle to the thread-guiding surface 35, and as the thread-guide travels away from the last active needle the thread will draw over the surface 35 at an angle which will grow more acute as the cam-cylinder continues its movement until the thread slides up the incline 35 and into the slot 37, along which it will travel until it enters the guide 33. Now when the cam cylinder reverses and travels from right to left the thread will run through the guide 33, and when the guide has passed the inactive needles and the active needles begin to be operated by the knitting-cam the thread will run over the surface 36, as indicated in Fig. 2. During the latter part of the stroke of the cam-cylinder in this direction the thread will slide off the incline 36 and be guided by the slot 37 into the guide 32 preparatory to the next stroke of the camcylinder from left to right.

The machine may be provided with devices for transferring individual needles from the active to the inactive series, and vice versa, during the narrowing and widening when forming the heel or toe of a stocking,

,and with devices for throwing the needles not .used on the heel or toe out of and into action,

as is usual in automatic knitting-machines,

and these devices may be of any well-known construction.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a knitting-machine the combination, with the sinkers, of sinker retracting and ad vancing cams shifted through the action of the sinkers to vary the points at which the sinkers are operated, substantially as described.

2. In a knitting-machine the combination, with the sinkers, of shifting sinker-operating cams for retracting and advancing the sinkers shifted by their engagement with the sinkers as the relative movement between the sinkers and operating-cams 1S reversed, substantially as described.

3. In a knitting-machine the combination, with the sinkers, of a shifting plate provided with two sinker-retracting cams and two sinker advancing cams, and means for so guiding the plate that it is shifted by its engagement with the sinkers during reciprocating knitting to bring first one set of cams and then the other set into operation, substantially as described.

4. In a knitting-machine the combination,

with the sinkers, of a sinker cam-ring, sinker retracting and advancing cams mounted thereon and shifted circumfercntially as the relative movement between the sinkers and cam-ring is reversed, and slots for determining the positions of the sinker-cams, substantially as described.

5. In a knitting-machine the combination, with the sinkers, of a sinker cam-ring, sinkeroperating cams mounted thereon and shifted clrcumferentially as the relative movement between the sinkers and cam-ring is reversed, slots for determining the positions of the sinker-cams, and means for varying the shape of the slots, substantially as described.

6. In a lmitting-machine the combination, with a sinker cam-ring, of a shifting plate 29 mounted thereon and provided with camsurfaces 25, 26, 27 and 28, substantially as described.

7. In a knitting-machine the combination, with a sinker cam-ring, of a shifting plate 29 mounted thereon and provided with camsurfaces 25, 26, 27 and 28, slots in the ring for guiding the plate, and means for varying the shape of the slots, substantially as described.

8. In a knitting-machine the combination of a series of needles, means for causing a knitting-wave to travel back and forth along the series of needles, means for leading the thread to the needles in advance of the knitting-point as the knitting-wave travels, sinkers for holding the fabric as the needles rise, and means operated by the sinkers for shifting the points at which the sinkers are advanced and withdrawn from side to side of the knitting-wave, substantially as described.

9. In a knittin -machine the combination of a needle-cylinder, needles guided therein, a cam-cylinder provided with means for forming a knitting-wave in the needles in fixed relation to the cam-cylinder during reciprocating knitting, sinkers for holding the fabric as the needles rise, and sinker-operating cams moved circumferentially and radially to shift the points at which the sinkers are withdrawn and advanced from side to side of the knitting-point during reciprocating knitting, substantially as described.

10. In a knitting-machine the combination, with a needle-cylinder and needles, of a cam-cylinder provided with a single knittingcam for drawing down the needles during reciprocating knitting, sinkers for holding the fabric, and a sinker cam-ring provided with sinker-operatin cams shifted circumferentially and radiaIly during reciprocating knitting, substantially as described.

11. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the sinkers and sinker cam-ring, of a plate shifted by relative movement be tween the sinker cam-rim and a part with which the plate is frictiomIly connected, and earns for advancing the sinkers moved into and out of action-by the shifting of said plate, substantially as described. g

12. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the sinkers, cams for retracting 14. Ina knitting-machine, the cqmbina tion, with the sinkers and sinker cam-ring, of

sinker-operating cams, movably mounted in the cam-ring, means for shifting the cams rearward of the cam-ring as its'motion is reversed and varying the positions of the cams to shift forward the oint at which the sinkers are advanced, substantially as described.

15. In a knittin -machine, the combination, with the sin ers, of sinker-operating cams shifted circumferentially and radially asthe relative movement between the cams and sinkers is reversed, substantially as de- 0 scribed.

JAMES E. ROWE.

Witnssesz' 'W. H. THURSTON, J. H. THURSTON. 

